Go On Offense

Things go wrong.  It’s unfortunate.  But it’s reality.  Despite a great idea, good execution and the best of intentions, there are times when things just don’t go as planned.  You lost the sale.  Your company failed.  You let the opportunity go.  Whatever.  It happens.  But what do you do then? I think the common reaction is to protect…to go on defense.  It’s the reaction where you justify the failure and to protect your ego and your brain.  This is the depressive state where you huddle up on your office, or your home, or your safe place and you avoid the outside world.   This a natural and very human reaction.  And for a time, it might be necessary.  But it’s not productive.   Once we can, the better reaction is to go on offense.  This reaction attacks the problem and tries to fix it or learn from it.  Lost the sale?  Okay…but why?  What could I have done better?  Can it still be saved?  What do I need to do?  What can I control?   When things are slow in sales, what do you do?  Do you wait for the phone to ring?  Or do you, like a lot of people, create “busy work” that will make it look like you are being proactive, but really keep you from being uncomfortable?  I have done that.  And while we are there, we can convince ourselves we are busy.  But it’s not really offense. If you are at that crossroads this morning (as many of us are), it’s time to make a choice.  Make a list of the things you know you need to do.  This is a list of the things that make you uncomfortable…but could help you succeed.  Now go do those.   As Jocko Willink, former Navy Seal and author of Extreme Ownership, would say, “You have a problem….Good.”   Things went wrong.  But today is a new day.  Now…go on offense. Make sure you never miss your motivation and inspiration.  Sign up for our VIP Newsletter here.   And as always, you can always shop online for great promotional gifts for your team here.